Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-11-03
THE MYSTERY OF PAIN.

IHE MI lSIER1 OE PAIN-
The lightning express was leaping
madly over bridges and around curves
as if bent on self destruction. The en-
CINE, with its eye and heart of fire,
careered over the dizzy heights of
lofty viaducts like some sentient
thing, glorying in a sense of danger
But the speed was tame to Emily
Fowler, with that throb bling impotence
in her veins.
"Come at once; he wishes to see you
before he dies" the telegram had said.
Oh, would the train never reach the
cityp He was dying-dying under a
shadow, and she was the cause. If he
could but live month, a week, even
single day longer, uutil her confession
should flash around the world, soaring,
as with tongue of flame, the SANDER
that had plucked him from his high
place among his fellows!
At last she stood on the platform of
the station, in the midst of the city's
gloom and roar. She had a shrinking
fear of recognition, though she had
been stranger to her native place
five years.
Suc lOOh IL W w OCVs
in the suburbs.
Within few yards of the house she
paid the man and dismissed him, then
walked up to the gate that opened
upon the rather spacious grounds.
The hospitable old-fashioned house
stood under the shade of trees. The
hall was brightly lighted, and the win
dows of the chamber where he was ly-
ing cleaned dimly.
She rang the bell and waited. Was
it in some other life she had used to
walk in there to seek counsel and SYM
pathy from him, her pastor, when his
gentle-faced sister, now dead, had met
her with warm solicitude, and when he
was sailing upon the crest of the wave
OF popularity in the full perfection of
his splendid powers.
A quiet, middle-aged woman opened
the door.
She was his housekeeper. ''Mrs.
Fowier?" she said enquiringly. "Yes,"
in answer to the anxious inquiry in
the eyes of the unhappy lady, she is
yet living" and she led the way into
the dim parior, then went up stairs to
announce the visitor.
seemed His trouble had not uprooted
him from the spot that was his by in
heritance. He had lived here re-
cluse since the death of his sister, with
his books and literary work. He stood
no longer at the sacred desk. He had
steadily refused the large inducements
offered him, refusing to trade on his
blackened reputation.
The housekeeper returned and con
Quoted her up stairs. The nurse wen.
out as she entered, and the two were
left alone together for the last act OF
the tragedy.
The room was large and lofty, with
dark window drapery sweeping from
the ceiling to thu floor. The dark
walls were hung with paintings, among
them King Lear wrestling in the
midnight tempest with his awful mad
ness and despair.
Gregory Bancroft lay there with
the tall bedstead towering above his
head, massive Titan of majestic soul.
The strong, grand face bore the i'm
press of his grief. Yet his mighty
heart had not broken. It had expand
ed with its great throes of sorrow I'M
IL
kingdom.
She stood beside the bed. He
reached out hand, as if to welcome
her.
At cannot take your hand!" she
cried. ''Your life has been ruined
through me. How can you forgive?"
She was kneeling beside the bed
with clasped hands and face of an
guish, in strong contrast to the high,
almost sublime expression of the face
on the pillow.
''How can | forgive? Because l
have absolved you in my thoughts"
he said. 81 knew that ii was the over
mastering will of your husband that
made you the instrument of wrong to
me. knew that you were not NOR
ally responsible for the lie wrung from
you on your sick bed. / understood
your peculiar organization far better
than you knew. knew you could be
compelled, mesmerized by stronger
viii, in certain nervous states that rem
dered you highly susceptible"
She looked at him with a kind of
dim wonder that he had so truly inter-
preted the situation.
ssBut you did not know" she has
tened to say, ''you did not know what
coward | became when | was once
more mistress of myself and became
aware what tissue of falsehoods had
been woven to ensnare you. declared
I would speak and do my share to-
wards righting the wrong. He threat
ened to confine me in an insane asy-
lum. / knew he would fulfill his
threat. 1t seemed to me at last that ]
was insane. Ee held me under the